Timeline based content organization

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a first content section and one or more first content items of the first content section are displayed on an electronic device. In response to a user scrolling in a first direction to a second content section, displaying one or more second content items of the second content section, the one or more second content items replacing the one or more first content items. In response to the user scrolling in a second direction to a third content section, displaying the one or more third content items of the third content section, the one or more third content items replacing the one or more first content items.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation-in-part, under 35 U.S.C. §120, ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/488,039, filed on 4 Jun., 2012,which claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/593,841, filed on 1 Feb. 2012, each of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to a user interface.

BACKGROUND

A user interface (UI), in the industrial design field of human-machineinteraction, is the space where interactions between humans and machinesoccur. The goal of the interactions between a human, often referred toas a “user”, and a machine at the user interface is the user's controlof the machine and its operations (e.g., through user input) and machinefeedback (e.g., through program output). A graphical user interface(GUI) is a type of user interface that allows users to interact withsoftware applications executing on electronic or computing devicesthrough multimedia objects (e.g., images, videos, audios, etc.) ratherthan purely text commands.

SUMMARY OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

In particular embodiments, a user interface for presenting content tousers may have a hierarchical structure. The user interface may have anynumber of content sections, and each content section may have any numberof content items. The content items may be of any type or format. A usermay consume or interact with some of the content items. In particularembodiments, each content item may correspond to a user-interfaceelement.

In particular embodiments, each content section is visually representedwith a background image. The background image of each content section isdisplayed at a lower layer of the hierarchical user interface. For eachcontent section, the content items are displayed sequentially at ahigher layer of the hierarchical user interface, above the layer fordisplaying the background image of the content section.

In particular embodiments, when a user scrolls through the contentsections by scrolling through the background images, as the user scrollsbetween two background images of two content sections, the content itemsmove with their respective content sections. Similarly, as the userscrolls through the content items of two content sections, thebackground images of the content sections move with their respectivecontent items. In this sense, the content items are locked to and movein synchronization with the content section (e.g., the background imageof the content section) to which they belong.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example network environment associated with asocial-networking system.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate two example mobile electronic devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example social graph.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example object hierarchy.

FIGS. 5A-5F illustrate example content sections arrangedchronologically.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate an example where a user scrolls from one contentsection to another content section.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example computer system.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

A user interface (UI) may be incorporated into any type of softwareapplications, including, for example, desktop applications, mobileapplications, or web-based applications, to enable users to interactwith and control the applications. A graphical user interface (GUI) is atype of user interface that enables users to interact with softwareapplications through multi-media objects, including, for example, icons,buttons, menus, images, video, or audios.

In particular embodiments, a software application may be associated witha social-networking system. FIG. 1 illustrates an example networkenvironment 100 associated with a social-networking system. Networkenvironment 100 includes a user 101, a client system 130, asocial-networking system 160, and a third-party system 170 connected toeach other by a network 110. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a particulararrangement of user 101, client system 130, social-networking system160, third-party system 170, and network 110, this disclosurecontemplates any suitable arrangement of user 101, client system 130,social-networking system 160, third-party system 170, and network 110.As an example and not by way of limitation, two or more of client system130, social-networking system 160, and third-party system 170 may beconnected to each other directly, bypassing network 110. As anotherexample, two or more of client system 130, social-networking system 160,and third-party system 170 may be physically or logically co-locatedwith each other in whole or in part. Moreover, although FIG. 1illustrates a particular number of users 101, client systems 130,social-networking systems 160, third-party systems 170, and networks110, this disclosure contemplates any suitable number of users 101,client systems 130, social-networking systems 160, third-party systems170, and networks 110. As an example and not by way of limitation,network environment 100 may include multiple users 101, client system130, social-networking systems 160, third-party systems 170, andnetworks 110.

In particular embodiments, user 101 may be an individual (human user),an entity (e.g., an enterprise, business, or third-party application),or a group (e.g., of individuals or entities) that interacts orcommunicates with or over social-networking system 160. In particularembodiments, social-networking system 160 may be a network-addressablecomputing system hosting an online social network. Social-networkingsystem 160 may generate, store, receive, and transmit social-networkingdata, such as, for example, user-profile data, concept-profile data,social-graph information, or other suitable data related to the onlinesocial network. Social-networking system 160 may be accessed by theother components of network environment 100 either directly or vianetwork 110. In particular embodiments, social-networking system 160 mayinclude an authorization server that allows users 101 to opt in or optout of having their actions logged by social-networking system 160 orshared with other systems (e.g., third-party systems 170), such as, forexample, by setting appropriate privacy settings. In particularembodiments, third-party system 170 may be a network-addressablecomputing system that can host various third-party software applications(e.g., web-based applications). Third-party system 170 may generate,store, receive, and transmit various types of data, such as, forexample, texts, images, videos, or audios. Third-party system 170 may beaccessed by the other components of network environment 100 eitherdirectly or via network 110. In particular embodiments, one or moreusers 101 may use one or more client systems 130 to access, send datato, and receive data from social-networking system 160 or third-partysystem 170. Client system 130 may access social-networking system 160 orthird-party system 170 directly, via network 110, or via a third-partysystem. As an example and not by way of limitation, client system 130may access third-party system 170 via social-networking system 160.Client system 130 may be any suitable computing device, such as, forexample, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, asmartphone, or a tablet computer.

This disclosure contemplates any suitable network 110. As an example andnot by way of limitation, one or more portions of network 110 mayinclude an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual privatenetwork (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a widearea network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network(MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN), a cellular telephone network, or a combinationof two or more of these. Network 110 may include one or more networks110.

Links 150 may connect client system 130, social-networking system 160,and third-party system 170 to communication network 110 or to eachother. This disclosure contemplates any suitable links 150. Inparticular embodiments, one or more links 150 include one or morewireline (such as for example Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or Data OverCable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS)), wireless (such as forexample Wi-Fi or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access(WiMAX)), or optical (such as for example Synchronous Optical Network(SONET) or Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)) links. In particularembodiments, one or more links 150 each include an ad hoc network, anintranet, an extranet, a VPN, a LAN, a WLAN, a WAN, a WWAN, a MAN, aportion of the Internet, a portion of the PSTN, a cellulartechnology-based network, a satellite communications technology-basednetwork, another link 150, or a combination of two or more such links150. Links 150 need not necessarily be the same throughout networkenvironment 100. One or more first links 150 may differ in one or morerespects from one or more second links 150.

In particular embodiments, data (e.g., data representing various typesof information or content) may be sent between servers associated withsocial-networking system 160 and individual client systems 130 vianetwork 110. When two electronic devices (e.g., a server and a client)are connected to a network (e.g., a computer or communications network,such as network 110), data may be transmitted between the two devicesover the network using one or more suitable network protocols. A networkmay include any number of sub-networks. By transmitting data between thetwo devices, the two devices may communicate with each other.

In network communications, there are two ways to send a communication(i.e., data) from one device to another device: push and pull. With pushtechnology, the request for the communication transaction is initiatedby the sending device. That is, the sending device “pushes” thecommunication, so to speak, to the receiving device. In this case, thesending device may be considered the active party and the receivingdevice may be considered the passive party in the transaction. Incontrast, with pull technology, the request for the communicationtransaction is initiated by the receiving device. That is, the receivingdevice “pulls” the communication, so to speak, from the sending device.In this case, the sending device may be considered the passive party andthe receiving device may be considered the active party in thetransaction. In particular embodiments, a server associated withsocial-networking system 160 may push data to a client system 130. Acommunication pushed from a server to a client may be referred to as a“push notification”. Similarly, a client system 130 may push data to aserver associated with social-networking system 160.

In particular embodiments, a client system 130 may be a mobileelectronic or computing device. A mobile electronic device—such as aSmartphone, tablet computer, or laptop computer—may includefunctionality for determining its location, direction, or orientation,such as a GPS receiver, compass, or gyroscope. Such a mobile device mayalso include functionality for wireless communication, such as BLUETOOTHcommunication, near-field communication (NFC), or infrared (IR)communication or communication with a wireless local area networks(WLANs) or cellular-telephone network. Such a mobile device may alsoinclude one or more cameras, scanners, touchscreens, microphones, orspeakers. Mobile electronic devices may also execute softwareapplications, such as games, web browsers, or social-networkingapplications. With social-networking applications, users may connect,communicate, and share information with other users in their socialnetworks.

In particular embodiments, a mobile electronic device (e.g., Smartphoneor tablet computer) may include a touchscreen capable of receiving touchinput. FIG. 2A illustrates an example mobile electronic device 210(e.g., a Smartphone) having a touchscreen 215. Touchscreen 215 mayincorporate one or more touch sensors and a touch-sensor controller fordetecting the presence and location of a touch (e.g., from a user'sfinger) or the proximity of an object (e.g., a stylus). In particularembodiments, a specific touch detected via touchscreen 215 may result ina touch input event.

Different mobile electronic devices may have different designs. As aresult, the size, shape, or aspect ration of the touchscreens ofdifferent mobile devices may differ. FIG. 2B illustrates another examplemobile electronic device 220 (e.g., a tablet computer) having atouchscreen 225. Similarly, touchscreen 225 may incorporate one or moretouch sensors and a touch-sensor controller for detecting the presenceand location of a touch (e.g., from a user's finger) or the proximity ofan object (e.g., a stylus). A specific touch detected via touchscreen225 may result in a touch input event. However, since mobile electronicdevices 210 and 220 are two different types of devices, their respectivetouchscreen 215 and 225 have different sizes and aspect ratios.

There may be various types of touches or gestures, such as single tap,double tap, short press, long press, slide, swipe, flip, pinch open, orpinch close, corresponding to various types of touch input events.Different touch input events may result in different responses and thisdisclosure contemplates any applicable gesture.

Social-networking system 160 may store various types of data including,for example, user data, application data, or social data. In particularembodiments, such data may be stored in a graph having any number ofnodes and edges, where each edge connects two nodes. The graph is oftenreferred to as a “social graph” or “open graph” as it contains, amongothers, social information.

FIG. 3 illustrates example social graph 300. In particular embodiments,social-networking system 160 may store one or more social graphs 300 inone or more data stores. In particular embodiments, social graph 300 mayinclude multiple nodes—which may include multiple user nodes 302 ormultiple concept nodes 304—and multiple edges 306 connecting the nodes.Example social graph 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 is shown, for didacticpurposes, in a two-dimensional visual map representation. In particularembodiments, a social-networking system 160, client system 130, orthird-party system 170 may access social graph 300 and relatedsocial-graph information for suitable applications. The nodes and edgesof social graph 300 may be stored as data objects, for example, in adata store (such as a social-graph database). Such a data store mayinclude one or more searchable or queryable indexes of nodes or edges ofsocial graph 300.

In particular embodiments, a user node 302 may correspond to a user ofsocial-networking system 160. As an example and not by way oflimitation, a user may be an individual (human user), an entity (e.g.,an enterprise, business, or third-party application), or a group (e.g.,of individuals or entities) that interacts or communicates with or oversocial-networking system 160. In particular embodiments, when a userregisters for an account with social-networking system 160,social-networking system 160 may create a user node 302 corresponding tothe user, and store the user node 302 in one or more data stores. Usersand user nodes 302 described herein may, where appropriate, refer toregistered users and user nodes 302 associated with registered users. Inaddition or as an alternative, users and user nodes 302 described hereinmay, where appropriate, refer to users that have not registered withsocial-networking system 160. In particular embodiments, a user node 302may be associated with information provided by a user or informationgathered by various systems, including social-networking system 160. Asan example and not by way of limitation, a user may provide his or hername, profile picture, contact information, birth date, sex, maritalstatus, family status, employment, education background, preferences,interests, or other demographic information. In particular embodiments,a user node 302 may be associated with one or more data objectscorresponding to information associated with a user. In particularembodiments, a user node 302 may correspond to one or more webpages.

In particular embodiments, a concept node 304 may correspond to aconcept. As an example and not by way of limitation, a concept maycorrespond to a place (such as, for example, a movie theater,restaurant, landmark, or city); a website (such as, for example, awebsite associated with social-network system 160 or a third-partywebsite associated with a web-application server); an entity (such as,for example, a person, business, group, sports team, or celebrity); aresource (such as, for example, an audio file, video file, digitalphoto, text file, structured document, or application) which may belocated within social-networking system 160 or on an external server,such as a web-application server; real or intellectual property (suchas, for example, a sculpture, painting, movie, game, song, idea,photograph, or written work); a game; an activity; an idea or theory;another suitable concept; or two or more such concepts. A concept node304 may be associated with information of a concept provided by a useror information gathered by various systems, including social-networkingsystem 160. As an example and not by way of limitation, information of aconcept may include a name or a title; one or more images (e.g., animage of the cover page of a book); a location (e.g., an address or ageographical location); a website (which may be associated with a URL);contact information (e.g., a phone number or an email address); othersuitable concept information; or any suitable combination of suchinformation. In particular embodiments, a concept node 304 may beassociated with one or more data objects corresponding to informationassociated with concept node 304. In particular embodiments, a conceptnode 304 may correspond to one or more webpages.

In particular embodiments, a node in social graph 300 may represent orbe represented by a webpage (which may be referred to as a “profilepage”). Profile pages may be hosted by or accessible tosocial-networking system 160. Profile pages may also be hosted onthird-party websites associated with a third-party server 170. As anexample and not by way of limitation, a profile page corresponding to aparticular external webpage may be the particular external webpage andthe profile page may correspond to a particular concept node 304.Profile pages may be viewable by all or a selected subset of otherusers. As an example and not by way of limitation, a user node 302 mayhave a corresponding user-profile page in which the corresponding usermay add content, make declarations, or otherwise express himself orherself. As another example and not by way of limitation, a concept node304 may have a corresponding concept-profile page in which one or moreusers may add content, make declarations, or express themselves,particularly in relation to the concept corresponding to concept node304.

In particular embodiments, a concept node 304 may represent athird-party webpage or resource hosted by a third-party system 170. Thethird-party webpage or resource may include, among other elements,content, a selectable or other icon, or other inter-actable object(which may be implemented, for example, in JavaScript, AJAX, or PHPcodes) representing an action or activity. As an example and not by wayof limitation, a third-party webpage may include a selectable icon suchas “like,” “check in,” “eat,” “recommend,” or another suitable action oractivity. A user viewing the third-party webpage may perform an actionby selecting one of the icons (e.g., “eat”), causing a client system 130to transmit to social-networking system 160 a message indicating theuser's action. In response to the message, social-networking system 160may create an edge (e.g., an “eat” edge) between a user node 302corresponding to the user and a concept node 304 corresponding to thethird-party webpage or resource and store edge 306 in one or more datastores.

In particular embodiments, a pair of nodes in social graph 300 may beconnected to each other by one or more edges 306. An edge 306 connectinga pair of nodes may represent a relationship between the pair of nodes.In particular embodiments, an edge 306 may include or represent one ormore data objects or attributes corresponding to the relationshipbetween a pair of nodes. As an example and not by way of limitation, afirst user may indicate that a second user is a “friend” of the firstuser. In response to this indication, social-networking system 160 maytransmit a “friend request” to the second user. If the second userconfirms the “friend request,” social-networking system 160 may createan edge 306 connecting the first user's user node 302 to the seconduser's user node 302 in social graph 300 and store edge 306 associal-graph information in one or more of data stores (e.g., datastores associated with social-networking system 160). In the example ofFIG. 3, social graph 300 includes an edge 306 indicating a friendrelation between user nodes 302 of user “A” and user “B” and an edgeindicating a friend relation between user nodes 302 of user “C” and user“B.” Although this disclosure describes or illustrates particular edges306 with particular attributes connecting particular user nodes 302,this disclosure contemplates any suitable edges 306 with any suitableattributes connecting user nodes 302. As an example and not by way oflimitation, an edge 306 may represent a friendship, family relationship,business or employment relationship, fan relationship, followerrelationship, visitor relationship, subscriber relationship,superior/subordinate relationship, reciprocal relationship,non-reciprocal relationship, another suitable type of relationship, ortwo or more such relationships. Moreover, although this disclosuregenerally describes nodes as being connected, this disclosure alsodescribes users or concepts as being connected. Herein, references tousers or concepts being connected may, where appropriate, refer to thenodes corresponding to those users or concepts being connected in socialgraph 300 by one or more edges 306.

In particular embodiments, an edge 306 between a user node 302 and aconcept node 304 may represent a particular action or activity performedby a user associated with user node 302 toward a concept associated witha concept node 304. As an example and not by way of limitation, asillustrated in FIG. 3, a user may “like,” “attended,” “played,”“listened,” “cooked,” “worked at,” or “watched” a concept, each of whichmay correspond to a edge type or subtype. A concept-profile pagecorresponding to a concept node 304 may include, for example, aselectable “check in” icon (such as, for example, a clickable “check in”icon) or a selectable “add to favorites” icon. Similarly, after a userclicks these icons, social-networking system 160 may create a “favorite”edge or a “check in” edge in response to a user's action correspondingto a respective action. As another example and not by way of limitation,a user (user “C”) may listen to a particular song (“Ramble On”) using aparticular application (SPOTIFY, which is an online music application).In this case, social-networking system 160 may create a “listened” edge306 and a “used” edge (as illustrated in FIG. 3) between user nodes 302corresponding to the user and concept nodes 304 corresponding to thesong and application to indicate that the user listened to the song andused the application. Moreover, social-networking system 160 may createa “played” edge 306 (as illustrated in FIG. 3) between concept nodes 304corresponding to the song and the application to indicate that theparticular song was played by the particular application. In this case,“played” edge 306 corresponds to an action performed by an externalapplication (SPOTIFY) on an external audio file (the song “Imagine”).Although this disclosure describes particular edges 306 with particularattributes connecting user nodes 302 and concept nodes 304, thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable edges 306 with any suitableattributes connecting user nodes 302 and concept nodes 304. Moreover,although this disclosure describes edges between a user node 302 and aconcept node 304 representing a single relationship, this disclosurecontemplates edges between a user node 302 and a concept node 304representing one or more relationships. As an example and not by way oflimitation, an edge 306 may represent both that a user likes and hasused at a particular concept. Alternatively, another edge 306 mayrepresent each type of relationship (or multiples of a singlerelationship) between a user node 302 and a concept node 304 (asillustrated in FIG. 3 between user node 302 for user “E” and conceptnode 304 for “SPOTIFY”).

In particular embodiments, social-networking system 160 may create anedge 306 between a user node 302 and a concept node 304 in social graph300. As an example and not by way of limitation, a user viewing aconcept-profile page (such as, for example, by using a web browser or aspecial-purpose application hosted by the user's client system 130) mayindicate that he or she likes the concept represented by the conceptnode 304 by clicking or selecting a “Like” icon, which may cause theuser's client system 130 to transmit to social-networking system 160 amessage indicating the user's liking of the concept associated with theconcept-profile page. In response to the message, social-networkingsystem 160 may create an edge 306 between user node 302 associated withthe user and concept node 304, as illustrated by “like” edge 306 betweenthe user and concept node 304. In particular embodiments,social-networking system 160 may store an edge 306 in one or more datastores. In particular embodiments, an edge 306 may be automaticallyformed by social-networking system 160 in response to a particular useraction. As an example and not by way of limitation, if a first useruploads a picture, watches a movie, or listens to a song, an edge 306may be formed between user node 302 corresponding to the first user andconcept nodes 304 corresponding to those concepts. Although thisdisclosure describes forming particular edges 306 in particular manners,this disclosure contemplates forming any suitable edges 306 in anysuitable manner.

In particular embodiments, a set of objects may be organized into ahierarchy based on, for example, how the individual objects are relatedto each other. An object hierarchy may have any number of levels, and ateach level, there may be any number of objects. Parent-child or siblingrelationships may exist between specific objects in the hierarchy.Within an object hierarchy, a parent object is one level above the levelof its child objects. Two sibling objects are at the same level andshare the same parent object. In addition, any portion of the hierarchymay also be considered a hierarchy in itself.

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of an example object hierarchy 400 thatincludes a number of objects 410. FIG. 4 is in fact a visualrepresentation of an object hierarchy. Each node represents a specificobject in the hierarchy, and each edge connecting two nodes represents aparent-child relationship between the two corresponding objects.

In particular embodiments, an object in a hierarchy may or may not havea parent. If an object does not have a parent, it may be referred to asa “root” object (e.g., object 410A). Typically, the root object ispositioned at the first or topmost level of the hierarchy. In particularembodiments, an object in a hierarchy may or may not have any children.If an object does not have any children, it may be referred to as a“leaf” or “terminal” object (e.g., object 410B). If an object does havechildren (e.g., object 410C), it may have any number of children. Inaddition, objects sharing the same parent may be referred to as eachother's “siblings”. For example, in FIG. 4, object 410C is the parent ofobjects 410D and 410B. Objects 410D and 410B are the children of object410C and are siblings to each other. Thus, a hierarchy of objects (e.g.,object hierarchy 400) not only includes the individual objects (e.g.,objects 410) themselves but also indicates the relationships among thespecific objects. Moreover, the position of a specific object within thehierarchy may indicate its relationships with other objects in thehierarchy.

Objects 410 may be of various types, and this disclosure contemplatesany applicable object types. For example and without limitation, theterm “object” may refer to any type of content, including but notlimited to images, videos, captions, text blocks or boxes,user-interface elements, clickable links, newsfeed stories, referencesto other objects, advertisements, calendar events, units for displayingopen graph analysis that may be graphically rendered, applications,websites, web pages, books, chapters. In particular embodiments, given ahierarchy of objects, which may be a portion of another, largerhierarchy of objects, the hierarchical relationships (e.g., parent-childor sibling relationships, positions of the objects within the hierarchy)between specific objects may direct some aspects of how these objectsbehave in the context of a user interface or how the objects arepresented to a user.

As an example, in the context of the desktop of a computing device, thedesktop may be a parent object, and sometimes the root object of ahierarchy, whose child objects are the individual software applicationsavailable on the desktop. A software application, while itself being oneof the child objects of the desktop, is also the parent object of theindividual components of that software application. Different softwareapplications may include different components. For example, for asoftware application that manages digital books (e.g., a book readerapplication), its components may include the digital books available,the individual chapters of each book, the pages of each chapter, and thetexts, images, videos, audios, or other content or media elements oneach page. Each of these also corresponds to an object (e.g.,user-interface component) in the hierarchy. More specifically, withinthe hierarchy, the digital book application may be the parent object ofthe digital books. A digital book may be the parent object of theindividual chapters of that book. A chapter, while itself being one ofthe child objects of the book, is also the parent object of the pages inthat chapter. A page is the parent object of the texts, images, videos,audios, or other content or media elements on that page. A text block,image, video, audio, or other content or media element is one of thechild objects of the page to which it belongs. Similarly, for a softwareapplication that manages news feeds, its components may include theindividual news channels and the news stories within each channel. Eachof these may correspond to an object. Within the hierarchy, thenews-feed application, while itself being one of the child objects ofthe desktop, is also the parent object of the news channels. A newschannel in turn is the parent object of the news stories included inthat channel.

As another example, in the context of the Internet or the World WideWeb, the Internet may be a parent object whose child objects are theindividual websites. A website, while itself being one of the childobjects of the Internet, is also the parent object of the individual webpages of that website. A web page, while itself being one of the childobjects of the website to which it belongs, is the parent object of thetexts, images, videos, audios, or links (e.g., Uniform Resource Locators(URLs)) included in the web page. Each text block, image, video, audio,or link may also correspond to a specific object in the hierarchy.

As a third example, a website, such as a social-networking websiteimplemented by social-networking system 160, may also be arranged in ahierarchical structure for navigating the content of thesocial-networking website. In this context, the social-networkingwebsite may be a parent object whose child objects are the components(e.g., photo albums, user profile pages, etc.) of the website. Forexample, a photo album, while itself being a child object of thesocial-networking website, may in turn be a parent object, and theindividual photos within the album may be the child objects of the photoalbum. A user's profile page may be structured in such a hierarchicalfashion as well. The profile page itself may be considered a parentobject, and the individual objects on the profile page may be the childobjects of the profile page. In particular embodiments, a profile pagemay be considered and rendered (e.g., for presentation to a user) as alinear timeline of objects, such as, for example and without limitation,photos, photo albums, check-ins, comments from other users, attendedevents, tags, applications the user has added to the profile page,stories, songs the user has listened to, playlists. These various typesof objects may all be children of the profile page, or may be furtherarranged into multiple levels. With some implementations, a user'sprofile page may include any number of sections, such as the user'seducation and employment information, the user's public “wall”, or theuser's social connections. Then the various types of objects above maybe divided into specific sections.

In particular embodiments, an object 410 may be a component of a userinterface. In this case, object hierarchy 400 may correspond to the userinterface, and each object 410 may correspond to a specific component ofthe user-interface. A user interface may have various types ofcomponents, and this disclosure contemplates any applicableuser-interface component types. For example, a user-interface component(i.e., an object 410) may be a window, a section, a tab, an image, avideo, an audio, a text block, a menu, an icon, a button, a checkbox, awebsite, a web page, a frame, a clickable link, a message, a post, or aninput field. In particular embodiments, an object 410 may be consumed bya user if the user is able to, for example and without limitation,interact with, view, read, listen to, manipulate, or handle the object410. For example, some user-consumable objects 410 may be texts, images,videos, audios, feeds, executables (e.g., application programs orgames), websites, web pages, digital books, photo albums, posts, ormessages.

In particular embodiments, when the user interface corresponding toobject hierarchy 400 is displayed (e.g., on a client system 130), thestructure of the corresponding object hierarchy 400 may reflect thestructure of the user interface. The relationships among the individualcomponents in the user interface, as reflected in object hierarchy 400,may influence how these components are organized and presented to users.The user interface may have any number of layers, respectivelycorresponding to the individual levels of object hierarchy 400. Objects410 (e.g., user-interface components) at a specific level of objecthierarchy 400 are displayed in the corresponding layer of the userinterface. With some implementations, the lowest or bottommost layer ofthe user interface corresponds to the first or topmost level of objecthierarchy 400. Thus, root object 410A is displayed in the lowest layerof the user interface. Furthermore, in the user interface, each object410 (e.g., user-interface component) is displayed in a layer immediatelyabove the layer where its parent, if one exists, is displayed andimmediately below the layer where its children, if any, are displayed.Sibling objects 410 are displayed at the same layer. Thus, the positionof a component in the user interface indicates its relationships (e.g.,parent-child or sibling) with other components in the user interface.

In particular embodiments, a user-interface component (e.g., an image, avideo, a folder, etc.) may be displayed in various display modes. As anexample, the user-interface component may be displayed in a“full-screen” mode, where the user-interface component occupies theentire or nearly the entire display area (e.g., the screen of anelectronic device). As another example, the user-interface component maybe displayed in an “on-page” mode, where the user-interface component isincluded in another user-interface component and displayed as a part ofthat other user-interface component (e.g., an image is displayed as apart of a web page). As a third example, the user-interface componentmay be displayed in an “index” mode, where the user-interface componentis a part of a series of user-interface components (e.g., an image isdisplayed together with other images from the same album, or a chapterof a book is displayed in the table of content of the book together withother chapters from the same book).

In particular embodiments, a hierarchical user interface may be used topresent content to a user. Such a user interface may be referred to as a“content feed” or “news feed” user interface. The content may be of anytype and format, such as, for example and without limitation, text,icon, image, video, audio, web page, post, or message. This disclosurecontemplates any applicable content type and format. In particularembodiments, the individual content items (e.g., text, image, video,audio, web page, post, message, news piece, etc.) may be organized intovarious categories, referred to as content sections. For example,related content items may be categorized into the same content section.The user interface may include any number of content sections, and eachcontent section may include any number of content items. Hierarchically,a content section may be the parent of the content items belonging tothat section. For example, various photos taken during a holiday tripmay be organized into the same album, and various photo albums may beorganized into the photo section of the user interface.

In particular embodiments, a user may consume or interact with aspecific content item. For example, a user consumes a content item whenthe user scrolls, opens up, views, listens to, selects, reviews, orcomments on the content item. A user interacts with a content item whenthe user selects, clicks on, taps, reviews, or comments on the contentitem. This disclosure contemplates any applicable means for a user toconsume or interact with a content item.

In particular embodiments, a hierarchical user interface may include anynumber of content sections, and each content section may include anynumber of content items. The content items of each section may be of anytype or format (e.g., video, audio, image, text, web page, post,message, news feed, etc.) and this disclosure contemplates anyapplicable content types. In particular embodiments, when these contentsections and content items are displayed, they may be arranged anddisplayed sequentially. With some implementations, the content sectionsmay be arranged chronologically along a timeline (e.g., in reversechronological order with the newer content sections positioned beforethe older content sections). Similarly, within each content section, thecontent items of that section may also be arranged chronologically alongthe timeline (e.g., in reverse chronological order with the newercontent items positioned before the older content items). FIGS. 5A-5Fillustrate several example content sections with their respectivecontent items.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example content section 510. There is abackground image 513 of content section 510, which is displayed at aspecific layer of the hierarchical user interface. Content items 514 ofcontent section 510 are displayed at another layer above the layer wherebackground image 513 is displayed. In this example, four content items514 are displayed at a time. There may be more content items of contentsection 510, and the user can scroll back and forth along the contentitems of content section 510 to view the individual items. In addition,the name of a user 511 (i.e., “Sharon Hwang”) is displayed. User 511 maybe the user of the electronic device on which the content sections anditems are displayed or whose content sections and items are currentlydisplayed. A title 512 of content section 510 (i.e., “About”) is alsodisplayed, which indicates that content section 510 is about user 511and all the content items 514 in this section 510 are about user 511. Inother words, content section 510 is an “about-user” section.

FIG. 5B illustrates another example content section 520. Similarly,content section 520 also has a title 522, a background image 523, andany number of content items 524. Title 522 of content section 520 (i.e.,“This Month”) indicates that content section 520 includes content items524 from the current month (i.e., October of 2012).

FIG. 5C illustrates a third example content section 530. Similarly,content section 530 has a title 532, a background image 533, and anynumber of content items 534. Title 532 of content section 530 (i.e.,“Last Month”) indicates that content section 530 includes content items534 from the last month (i.e., September of 2012).

FIG. 5D illustrates a fourth example content section 540. Contentsection 540 has a title 542, a background image 543, and any number ofcontent items 544. Title 542 of content section 540 (i.e., “Earlier ThisYear”) indicates that content section 540 includes content items 544from previous months of the current year (i.e., January to August of2012).

FIG. 5E illustrates a fifth example content section 550. Content section550 has a title 552, a background image 553, and any number of contentitems 554. Title 552 of content section 550 (i.e., “2011”) indicatesthat content section 550 includes content items 554 from the year 2011(i.e., the last year).

FIG. 5F illustrates a sixth example content section 560. Content section560 has a title 562, a background image 563, and any number of contentitems 564. Title 562 of content section 560 (i.e., “2012”) indicatesthat content section 560 includes content items 564 from the year 2012(i.e., the year before the last year).

As these examples illustrate, in particular embodiments, there may be acontent section about the user (e.g., content section 510), whichincludes only content items about the user himself or herself. With someimplementations, this “about-user” content section may be positioned atthe beginning of a series of content sections. Following the“about-user” content section, there may be any number of contentsections (e.g., content sections 520, 530, 540, 550, 560) arranged inreverse chronological order, each section including only content itemswithin a specific time period. In particular embodiments, each contentsection has a title or a background image or both. When the user isviewing a specific content section, the title and/or background image ofthat content section are displayed. In particular embodiments, eachcontent section has any number of content items. When the user isviewing a specific content section, the content items of that contentsection are displayed. With some implementations, the content items of aspecific content section are arranged and displayed sequentially (e.g.,in reverse chronological order) in index mode above the background imageof that section.

A user may scroll through a series of content sections sequentially.With some implementations, to scroll through content sections, the usermay swipe a finger in the left or right direction across the touchscreenwhere the background images of the content sections are displayed. Forexample, swiping a finger in the left direction may scroll toward theend of the series (e.g., toward the older content sections), whileswiping a finger in the right direction may scroll toward the beginningof the series (e.g., toward the newer content sections). FIGS. 6A-6Cillustrate a user scrolling from content section 520 to content section530.

Suppose that initially, content section 520 has been displayed on thescreen of a user's device (e.g., a Smartphone or a table computer), asillustrated in FIG. 5B. In FIG. 6A, the user starts to swipe a finger inthe left direction across the touchscreen where background image 523 ofcontent section 520 is displayed. In response, background image 523starts to move toward the left of the screen, corresponding to themovement of the user's finger. At the same time, content items 524 ofcontent section 520 also start to move toward the left of the screen,corresponding to the movement of background image 523. In other words,the movement of content items 524 synchronizes with the movement ofbackground image 523.

In addition, background image 533 of content section 530 begins toappear on the screen, from the right edge of the screen. Content section530 is the section immediately next to content section 520 in the seriesof content sections. At the same time, content items 534 of contentsection 530 also begin to appear on the screen, from the right edge ofthe screen. The movement of content items 534 synchronizes with themovement of background image 533.

In FIG. 6B, the user continues to swipe the finger in the left directionacross the touchscreen. Background image 523 and content items 524 ofcontent section 520 continue to move toward the left of the screen insynchronization. Part of background image 523 and content items 524 havenow disappeared off the left edge of the screen. At the same time,background image 533 and content items 534 of content section 530continue to move onto the screen more, also in synchronization.

In FIG. 6C, again the user continues to swipe the finger in the leftdirection across the touchscreen. At this point, background image 523and content items 524 of content section 520 have almost disappeared offthe left edge of the screen. On the other hand, background image 533 andcontent items 534 of content section 530 are moving further onto thescreen in synchronization, replacing background image 523 and contentitems 524. Eventually, background image 533 and content items 534 ofcontent section 530 are displayed on the screen, as illustrated in FIG.5C. At this point, the transition from content section 520 to contentsection 530 is completed. Note that during the transition illustrated inFIGS. 6A-6C, the titles of content sections 520 and 530 also move insynchronization with background images 523 and 533, respectively.

As this example illustrates, as a user scrolls through content sectionsby scrolling through the background images of the content sectionsarranged sequentially, the content items of each content section move insynchronization with the background image of that content section. Whenthe user scrolls from a first content section to a second contentsection in either direction, the background image of the second contentsection replaces the background image of the first content section. Atthe same time, the content items of the second content section replacethe content items of the first content section. The title of the secondcontent section replaces the title of the first content section.

Thus, for example, suppose that the user now scrolls from contentsection 530 back to content section 520. In response, background image533 and content items 534 of content section 530 gradually move towardthe right of the screen in synchronization and eventually disappear offthe right edge of the screen. At the same time, background image 523 andcontent items 524 of content section 520 gradually move onto the screenfrom the left edge of the screen and eventually are displayed on thescreen, replacing background image 533 and content items 534.

In particular embodiments, while viewing a specific content section, auser may also scroll through the content items of that section. Forexample, in FIG. 5B, while viewing content section 520, the user mayscroll through content items 524 of content section 520 by swiping afinger in the left or right direction across the touchscreen wherecontent items 524 are displayed. Suppose that the user continues toscroll toward the end of content items 524 (e.g., by swiping a finger inthe left direction across the touchscreen) and eventually reaches thelast content item of content section 520. At this point, if the userscrolls further in the same direction, in response, the first fewcontent items 534 of content section 530 appear on the screen, togetherwith background image 533 moving in synchronization. As a result, theuser is now viewing content section 530, as illustrated in FIG. 5C.Content section 530 is the content section immediately after contentsection 520. Conversely, suppose that while viewing content section 520,as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the user continues to scroll toward thebeginning of content items 524 (e.g., by swiping a finger in the rightdirection across the touchscreen) and eventually reaches the firstcontent item of content section 520. At this point, if the user scrollsfurther in the same direction, in response, the last few content items514 of content section 510 appear on the screen, together withbackground image 513 moving in synchronization. As a result, the user isnow viewing content section 510, as illustrated in FIG. 5A. Contentsection 510 is the content section immediately before content section520.

As these examples illustrate, in particular embodiments, the contentitems of a specific content section are “locked” to that content sectionto which they belong. More specifically, the background image of acontent section visually represents that content section, and thecontent items of the content section are “locked” to the backgroundimage of the content section to which they belong. Hierarchically, thebackground image of a content section may be considered the parent ofthe content items of the content section. As the user scrolls in eitherdirection through either the background images of content sections orthe content items, the background image and content items of a specificcontent section move in synchronization. When the user scrolls from thebackground image of a first content section to the background image of asecond content section, the content items switch in synchronization fromthose of the first content section to those of the second contentsection. When the user scrolls from the content items of a first contentsection to the content items of a second content section, the backgroundimages switch in synchronization from that of the first content sectionto that of the second content section.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example computer system 700. In particularembodiments, one or more computer systems 700 perform one or more stepsof one or more methods described or illustrated herein. In particularembodiments, one or more computer systems 700 provide functionalitydescribed or illustrated herein. In particular embodiments, softwarerunning on one or more computer systems 700 performs one or more stepsof one or more methods described or illustrated herein or providesfunctionality described or illustrated herein. Particular embodimentsinclude one or more portions of one or more computer systems 700.Herein, reference to a computer system may encompass a computing device,and vice versa, where appropriate. Moreover, reference to a computersystem may encompass one or more computer systems, where appropriate.

This disclosure contemplates any suitable number of computer systems700. This disclosure contemplates computer system 700 taking anysuitable physical form. As example and not by way of limitation,computer system 700 may be an embedded computer system, a system-on-chip(SOC), a single-board computer system (SBC) (such as, for example, acomputer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), a desktop computersystem, a laptop or notebook computer system, an interactive kiosk, amainframe, a mesh of computer systems, a mobile telephone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a server, a tablet computer system, or acombination of two or more of these. Where appropriate, computer system700 may include one or more computer systems 700; be unitary ordistributed; span multiple locations; span multiple machines; spanmultiple data centers; or reside in a cloud, which may include one ormore cloud components in one or more networks. Where appropriate, one ormore computer systems 700 may perform without substantial spatial ortemporal limitation one or more steps of one or more methods describedor illustrated herein. As an example and not by way of limitation, oneor more computer systems 700 may perform in real time or in batch modeone or more steps of one or more methods described or illustratedherein. One or more computer systems 700 may perform at different timesor at different locations one or more steps of one or more methodsdescribed or illustrated herein, where appropriate.

In particular embodiments, computer system 700 includes a processor 702,memory 704, storage 706, an input/output (I/O) interface 708, acommunication interface 710, and a bus 712. Although this disclosuredescribes and illustrates a particular computer system having aparticular number of particular components in a particular arrangement,this disclosure contemplates any suitable computer system having anysuitable number of any suitable components in any suitable arrangement.

In particular embodiments, processor 702 includes hardware for executinginstructions, such as those making up a computer program. As an exampleand not by way of limitation, to execute instructions, processor 702 mayretrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, aninternal cache, memory 704, or storage 706; decode and execute them; andthen write one or more results to an internal register, an internalcache, memory 704, or storage 706. In particular embodiments, processor702 may include one or more internal caches for data, instructions, oraddresses. This disclosure contemplates processor 702 including anysuitable number of any suitable internal caches, where appropriate. Asan example and not by way of limitation, processor 702 may include oneor more instruction caches, one or more data caches, and one or moretranslation lookaside buffers (TLBs). Instructions in the instructioncaches may be copies of instructions in memory 704 or storage 706, andthe instruction caches may speed up retrieval of those instructions byprocessor 702. Data in the data caches may be copies of data in memory704 or storage 706 for instructions executing at processor 702 tooperate on; the results of previous instructions executed at processor702 for access by subsequent instructions executing at processor 702 orfor writing to memory 704 or storage 706; or other suitable data. Thedata caches may speed up read or write operations by processor 702. TheTLBs may speed up virtual-address translation for processor 702. Inparticular embodiments, processor 702 may include one or more internalregisters for data, instructions, or addresses. This disclosurecontemplates processor 702 including any suitable number of any suitableinternal registers, where appropriate. Where appropriate, processor 702may include one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs); be a multi-coreprocessor; or include one or more processors 702. Although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates a particular processor, thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable processor.

In particular embodiments, memory 704 includes main memory for storinginstructions for processor 702 to execute or data for processor 702 tooperate on. As an example and not by way of limitation, computer system700 may load instructions from storage 706 or another source (such as,for example, another computer system 700) to memory 704. Processor 702may then load the instructions from memory 704 to an internal registeror internal cache. To execute the instructions, processor 702 mayretrieve the instructions from the internal register or internal cacheand decode them. During or after execution of the instructions,processor 702 may write one or more results (which may be intermediateor final results) to the internal register or internal cache. Processor702 may then write one or more of those results to memory 704. Inparticular embodiments, processor 702 executes only instructions in oneor more internal registers or internal caches or in memory 704 (asopposed to storage 706 or elsewhere) and operates only on data in one ormore internal registers or internal caches or in memory 704 (as opposedto storage 706 or elsewhere). One or more memory buses (which may eachinclude an address bus and a data bus) may couple processor 702 tomemory 704. Bus 712 may include one or more memory buses, as describedbelow. In particular embodiments, one or more memory management units(MMUs) reside between processor 702 and memory 704 and facilitateaccesses to memory 704 requested by processor 702. In particularembodiments, memory 704 includes random access memory (RAM). This RAMmay be volatile memory, where appropriate Where appropriate, this RAMmay be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). Moreover, whereappropriate, this RAM may be single-ported or multi-ported RAM. Thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable RAM. Memory 704 may include one ormore memories 704, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describesand illustrates particular memory, this disclosure contemplates anysuitable memory.

In particular embodiments, storage 706 includes mass storage for data orinstructions. As an example and not by way of limitation, storage 706may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive, flash memory,an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic tape, or a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two or more of these. Storage706 may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, whereappropriate. Storage 706 may be internal or external to computer system700, where appropriate. In particular embodiments, storage 706 isnon-volatile, solid-state memory. In particular embodiments, storage 706includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate, this ROM may bemask-programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM),electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), electrically alterable ROM (EAROM),or flash memory or a combination of two or more of these. Thisdisclosure contemplates mass storage 706 taking any suitable physicalform. Storage 706 may include one or more storage control unitsfacilitating communication between processor 702 and storage 706, whereappropriate. Where appropriate, storage 706 may include one or morestorages 706. Although this disclosure describes and illustratesparticular storage, this disclosure contemplates any suitable storage.

In particular embodiments, I/O interface 708 includes hardware,software, or both, providing one or more interfaces for communicationbetween computer system 700 and one or more I/O devices. Computer system700 may include one or more of these I/O devices, where appropriate. Oneor more of these I/O devices may enable communication between a personand computer system 700. As an example and not by way of limitation, anI/O device may include a keyboard, keypad, microphone, monitor, mouse,printer, scanner, speaker, still camera, stylus, tablet, touch screen,trackball, video camera, another suitable I/O device or a combination oftwo or more of these. An I/O device may include one or more sensors.This disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O devices and any suitableI/O interfaces 708 for them. Where appropriate, I/O interface 708 mayinclude one or more device or software drivers enabling processor 702 todrive one or more of these I/O devices. I/O interface 708 may includeone or more I/O interfaces 708, where appropriate. Although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates a particular I/O interface, thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable I/O interface.

In particular embodiments, communication interface 710 includeshardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces forcommunication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) betweencomputer system 700 and one or more other computer systems 700 or one ormore networks. As an example and not by way of limitation, communicationinterface 710 may include a network interface controller (NIC) ornetwork adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-basednetwork or a wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicatingwith a wireless network, such as a WI-FI network. This disclosurecontemplates any suitable network and any suitable communicationinterface 710 for it. As an example and not by way of limitation,computer system 700 may communicate with an ad hoc network, a personalarea network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or one or more portions of theInternet or a combination of two or more of these. One or more portionsof one or more of these networks may be wired or wireless. As anexample, computer system 700 may communicate with a wireless PAN (WPAN)(such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FI network, a WI-MAXnetwork, a cellular telephone network (such as, for example, a GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM) network), or other suitablewireless network or a combination of two or more of these. Computersystem 700 may include any suitable communication interface 710 for anyof these networks, where appropriate. Communication interface 710 mayinclude one or more communication interfaces 710, where appropriate.Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particularcommunication interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitablecommunication interface.

In particular embodiments, bus 712 includes hardware, software, or bothcoupling components of computer system 700 to each other. As an exampleand not by way of limitation, bus 712 may include an AcceleratedGraphics Port (AGP) or other graphics bus, an Enhanced Industry StandardArchitecture (EISA) bus, a front-side bus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT)interconnect, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBANDinterconnect, a low-pin-count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro ChannelArchitecture (MCA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, aPCI-Express (PCIe) bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association local (VLB) bus, oranother suitable bus or a combination of two or more of these. Bus 712may include one or more buses 712, where appropriate. Although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates a particular bus, this disclosurecontemplates any suitable bus or interconnect.

Herein, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium or media mayinclude one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits(ICs) (such, as for example, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) orapplication-specific ICs (ASICs)), hard disk drives (HDDs), hybrid harddrives (HHDs), optical discs, optical disc drives (ODDs),magneto-optical discs, magneto-optical drives, floppy diskettes, floppydisk drives (FDDs), magnetic tapes, solid-state drives (SSDs),RAM-drives, SECURE DIGITAL cards or drives, any other suitablecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media, or any suitablecombination of two or more of these, where appropriate. Acomputer-readable non-transitory storage medium may be volatile,non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile, whereappropriate.

Herein, “or” is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicatedotherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A or B”means “A, B, or both,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicatedotherwise by context. Moreover, “and” is both joint and several, unlessexpressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.Therefore, herein, “A and B” means “A and B, jointly or severally,”unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.

The scope of this disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions,variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodimentsdescribed or illustrated herein that a person having ordinary skill inthe art would comprehend. The scope of this disclosure is not limited tothe example embodiments described or illustrated herein. Moreover,although this disclosure describes and illustrates respectiveembodiments herein as including particular components, elements,functions, operations, or steps, any of these embodiments may includeany combination or permutation of any of the components, elements,functions, operations, or steps described or illustrated anywhere hereinthat a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend.Furthermore, reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or systemor a component of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to,capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative toperform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system,component, whether or not it or that particular function is activated,turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or componentis so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, oroperative.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising:arranging a plurality of components of a user interface in a hierarchy,wherein the user interface comprises one or more content layers, andwherein each of the content layers comprises at least one of thecomponents; displaying a first content section comprising a firstbackground component and a first title component on a first contentlayer, and displaying one or more first content items of the firstcontent section comprising one or more first components on a secondcontent layer overlaying at least a portion of the first content layer,wherein the first background component comprises an first imagedisplayed on an entirety of the user interface, wherein the first titlecomponent comprises an indication of a first time period associated witha user of an online social network, the first title component overlayinga portion of the first background component, and wherein the firstbackground component and the one or more first content items eachcorrespond to content associated with the first time period retrievedfrom the online social network; in response to a user interaction withthe first content items by scrolling the first content items in thesecond content layer in a first direction, displaying one or moreadditional first content items while maintaining a position of thedisplay of the first content section on the first content layer; and inresponse to a user interaction with the first content section byscrolling in the first direction from the first content section to asecond content section, replacing the first content section with thesecond content section and displaying the second content sectioncomprising a second background component and a second title component onthe first content layer, and displaying with one or more second contentitems of the second content section comprising one or more secondcomponents on the second content layer, the one or more second contentitems replacing the one or more first content items, wherein thereplacing occurs by transitioning the display of the first backgroundcomponent and the first title component on the first content layer insynchronization with the first content items on the second content layeroff the user interface while transitioning the display of the secondbackground component and the second title component onto the firstcontent layer in synchronization with the second content items onto thesecond content layer of the user interface, wherein the secondbackground component comprises a second image different from the firstimage displayed on the entirety of the user interface, wherein thesecond title component comprises an indication of a second time perioddifferent from the first time period associated with the user of theonline social network, the second component overlaying a portion of thesecond background component, and wherein the second background componentand the one or more second content items each correspond to contentassociated with the second time period retrieved from the online socialnetwork.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to theuser scrolling in the first direction from the one or more first contentitems to the one or more second content items, displaying the secondcontent section, the second content section replacing the first contentsection.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to theuser scrolling in a second direction from the first content section to athird content section, displaying one or more third content items of thethird content section, the one or more third content items replacing theone or more first content items.
 4. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising in response to the user scrolling in the second directionfrom the one or more first content items to the one or more thirdcontent items, displaying the third content section, the third contentsection replacing the first content section.
 5. The method of claim 3,further comprising arranging a plurality of content sectionschronologically in reverse chronological order, the plurality of contentsections including the first content section, the second contentsection, and the third content section, each content section having oneor more content items, the second content section having content itemsfrom an older time period than the first content section, and the thirdcontent section having content items from a newer time period than thefirst content section.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein: when the userscrolls in the first direction through the plurality of contentsections, the user moves from newer to older time-period contentsections; and when the user scrolls in the second direction through theplurality of content sections, the user moves from older to newertime-period content sections.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein: eachcontent section has a background image; the user scrolling in the firstdirection from the first content section to the second content sectioncomprises the user scrolls in the first direction from a firstbackground image of the first section to a second background image ofthe second section; and the user scrolling in the second direction fromthe first content section to the third content section comprises theuser scrolls in the second direction from the first background image ofthe first section to a third background image of the third section. 8.The method of claim 5, wherein: the plurality of content sectionsfurther includes an “about-user: content section; and the “about-user”content section has one or more “about-user” content items about theuser.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the “about-user” content sectionis positioned at the beginning of the plurality of content sections. 10.One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodyingsoftware that is operable when executed to: arrange a plurality ofcomponents of a user interface in a hierarchy, wherein the userinterface comprises one or more content layers, and wherein each of thecontent layers comprises at least one of the components; display a firstcontent section comprising a first background component and a firsttitle component on a first content layer, and display one or more firstcontent items of the first content section comprising one or more firstcomponents on a second content layer overlaying at least a portion ofthe first content layer, wherein the first background componentcomprises an first image displayed on an entirety of the user interface,wherein the first title component comprises an indication of a firsttime period associated with a user of an online social network, thefirst title component overlaying a portion of the first backgroundcomponent, and wherein the first background component and the one ormore first content items each correspond to content associated with thefirst time period retrieved from the online social network; in responseto a user interaction with the first content items by scrolling thefirst content items in the second content layer in a first direction,display one or more additional first content items while maintaining aposition of the display of the first content section on the firstcontent layer; and in response to a user interaction with the firstcontent section by scrolling in the first direction from the firstcontent section to a second content section, replace the first contentsection with the second content section and display the second contentsection comprising a second background component and a second titlecomponent on the first content layer, and display with one or moresecond content items of the second content section comprising one ormore second components on the second content layer, the one or moresecond content items replacing the one or more first content items,wherein the replacing occurs by transitioning the display of the firstbackground component and the first title component on the first contentlayer in synchronization with the first content items on the secondcontent layer off the user interface while transitioning the display ofthe second background component and the second title component onto thefirst content layer in synchronization with the second content itemsonto the second content layer of the user interface, wherein the secondbackground component comprises a second image different from the firstimage displayed on the entirety of the user interface, wherein thesecond title component comprises an indication of a second time perioddifferent from the first time period associated with the user of theonline social network, the second component overlaying a portion of thesecond background component, and wherein the second background componentand the one or more second content items each correspond to contentassociated with the second time period retrieved from the online socialnetwork.
 11. The media of claim 10, wherein the software is furtheroperable when executed to in response to the user scrolling in the firstdirection from the one or more first content items to the one or moresecond content items, display the second content section, the secondcontent section replacing the first content section.
 12. The media ofclaim 10, wherein the software is further operable when executed to inresponse to the user scrolling in a second direction from the firstcontent section to a third content section, display one or more thirdcontent items of the third content section, the one or more thirdcontent items replacing the one or more first content items.
 13. Themedia of claim 12, wherein the software is further operable whenexecuted to in response to the user scrolling in the second directionfrom the one or more first content items to the one or more thirdcontent items, display the third content section, the third contentsection replacing the first content section.
 14. The media of claim 12,wherein the software is further operable when executed to arrange aplurality of content sections chronologically in reverse chronologicalorder, the plurality of content sections including the first contentsection, the second content section, and the third content section, eachcontent section having one or more content items, the second contentsection having content items from an older time period than the firstcontent section, and the third content section having content items froma newer time period than the first content section.
 15. The media ofclaim 14, wherein: when the user scrolls in the first direction throughthe plurality of content sections, the user moves from newer to oldertime-period content sections; and when the user scrolls in the seconddirection through the plurality of content sections, the user moves fromolder to newer time-period content sections.
 16. The media of claim 14,wherein: each content section has a background image; the user scrollingin the first direction from the first content section to the secondcontent section comprises the user scrolls in the first direction from afirst background image of the first section to a second background imageof the second section; and the user scrolling in the second directionfrom the first content section to the third content section comprisesthe user scrolls in the second direction from the first background imageof the first section to a third background image of the third section.17. The media of claim 14, wherein: the plurality of content sectionsfurther includes an about-user” content section; and the “about-user”content section has one or more “about-user” content items about theuser.
 18. A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memorycoupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by theprocessors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to:arrange a plurality of components of a user interface in a hierarchy,wherein the user interface comprises one or more content layers, andwherein each of the content layers comprises at least one of thecomponents; display a first content section comprising a firstbackground component and a first title component on a first contentlayer, and display one or more first content items of the first contentsection comprising one or more first components on a second contentlayer overlaying at least a portion of the first content layer, whereinthe first background component comprises an first image displayed on anentirety of the user interface, wherein the first title componentcomprises an indication of a first time period associated with a user ofan online social network, the first title component overlaying a portionof the first background component, and wherein the first backgroundcomponent and the one or more first content items each correspond tocontent associated with the first time period retrieved from the onlinesocial network; in response to a user interaction with the first contentitems by scrolling the first content items in the second content layerin a first direction, display one or more additional first content itemswhile maintaining a position of the display of the first content sectionon the first content layer; and in response to a user interaction withthe first content section by scrolling in the first direction from thefirst content section to a second content section, replace the firstcontent section with the second content section and display the secondcontent section comprising a second background component and a secondtitle component on the first content layer, and display with one or moresecond content items of the second content section comprising one ormore second components on the second content layer, the one or moresecond content items replacing the one or more first content items,wherein the replacing occurs by transitioning the display of the firstbackground component and the first title component on the first contentlayer in synchronization with the first content items on the secondcontent layer off the user interface while transitioning the display ofthe second background component and the second title component onto thefirst content layer in synchronization with the second content itemsonto the second content layer of the user interface, wherein the secondbackground component comprises a second image different from the firstimage displayed on the entirety of the user interface, wherein thesecond title component comprises an indication of a second time perioddifferent from the first time period associated with the user of theonline social network, the second component overlaying a portion of thesecond background component, and wherein the second background componentand the one or more second content items each correspond to contentassociated with the second time period retrieved from the online socialnetwork.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processors are furtheroperable when executing the instructions to in response to the userscrolling in the first direction from the one or more first contentitems to the one or more second content items, display the secondcontent section, the second content section replacing the first contentsection.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the processors are furtheroperable when executing the instructions to in response to the userscrolling in a second direction from the first content section to athird content section, display one or more third content items of thethird content section, the one or more third content items replacing theone or more first content items.